Automatic polishing machine



y 1950 l. H. RUSSELL 2,507,998

AUTOMATIC POLISHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, IRVING H. RUSSE LL wi n+ l ATTORNEYS May 16, 1950 I. H. RUSSELL AUTOMATIC POLISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1948 Qii|||||||l|||||| lW////////////07 llllllHl IIILIIIIII Fig. 4

INVENTOR. If? Vl/VG H. RUSSELL ATTORNEYS.

May 16, 1950 1. H, RUSSELL AUTOMATIC POLISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 20, 1948 INVENTOR. [RV/N6 RUSSELL Huh-4 ATTORNEYS.

l atented May 1 6,

Elf) S TAT'E'TSZ AUTOMATIC POLISHING MACHINE" Ir-ving H;-Russell;Oak-Park;-Ill;,- as'signorto Sloan Valve =Go'mpany; Chicago,- IlL', amorporation of Illinois Appli'cation'0ctober'20, 194-8, scum-No. 55,477

This invention relates iii generalto polishing machines: but 'mere particularly to "an automaticmachine for progressively polishing and buffin'g aplurality of workpieces-fed into the machine, and the principal object of the invention" is i todesign anew automatic-polishing and buffing 'macliinefor opera-ting'upon' work pieces having ir'-'- regularshaped body contours;-

Another object is to-provid a new andin proved automatic polishingmac-hine in which the workpieces are indexed rogressivelyinto different positions at each of i which -a different-'polishing operation is performed.

A further object of the invention is to' design an automatic polishing machine which is :of sim'- pl=-construction,= easy--to operate and which' producespolished surfaces upon work pieces at' a" high productionrate.

Many work pieces, sucl'i' as valve bodies and the like; are currently produced which have cylindrical contours ofdifferent diameters and' are usual-- 1y-provided-With=one or more projecting-"portions or bosses extending outwardly-from" the'body: In order 'to' polish these valve bodies; it is customary for th'eworkman to manuall-y holdmd' guide the valve body againstthe" polishing wheel sothatallexternal irregular surface portions are reached by thewheel This is a cost1yand time consumingioperation' and re'su l-ts 'in uneconomical: production of the valve :bodies 'when large quantities are "involved. Howevenif only a small per-- tion of this manual labor could-be dispensed with; substantial savings would be effected. It will likewise be appreciated that where irregular shaped workpieces arcinvolved; many small por'-" tio'ns or sections of the body would-beinaccessible to'the: polishing wheels of an' automatic" polishing machine.- I'hese inaccessible portions could con: tinue: to be manually polished while the greater surface :portions wherever-practical would be automatically processed .by th'e machine;-

It zis therefore a-further Eobj'ect of the Linven'ti'on to -provide a machine which will automatically D01fSh"aSZmlIGh 0fthe surface 'of'a work piece=asitf-is practical-t0 do so;

With-the foregoing and other objects in view theipresent inventioncomprises certain novel constructions combinations; and-= operation of parts and elements as will be hereinafter 1 hill-3 described. illustrated inthe accompanying draw ings and more-particularly 1 pointed out the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings;-

Fig: l illustrates 'a' top view -ot theautomatic' polishingimacmne 0f the -invention; 55

15 Claims. (Cl.-"5-1-108) Fig-i Z is a sectional side 'view taken alon'g the line 2 z oi F-igi Fig 3 'is a; cross sectiirial topview takerialong the line -3 f3:of Fig-L 4 4- isa" crossfsection'al side view taken along the line 4 -4" 0f-Fig ,1';

Fig? 5 is a partial'side view of the polishingmechanisin taken along the line-' 5 5 1 i mg: 6' isa top view of'the work iece and work holder; while Fig 7 is apross-sectional side viewtaken alongthe linel l of Fig. 6:

Referring: n'ow moreparticularly'to the draw ings which illustrate 'a preferred embodiment of the: invention,- the mechanism as showncl'amped to the shoulder section -9 by mean s' oi a clampir ig mi t- I I threa'ded' on an extensionfl'll of the pilla- 6.

Arranged circumierentianyaround tlie -periph ery':ofi the commonwcrk table ir'i sr i'aced rel'af inclusive, which aredecated' a indexed -positions or stations designated by letters -C,'D ,-E;F and There are preferably eight=iridexed positions to whi'cn th'e work tabl 'l can be rotated-g station- A' bein'g the --'l0adi"ng ar-1d unloading-station rorrhe work piecespwhile station H is merely an idleststtion. The -polishing wheels are each rritated y individual motors: 21 con' ne'cted' by: shaft 22 W1th the motors as seen in Eig'i 2: These motors I are :each upported by angularbrackets; such as 23giwhich initurnare seourely attached as by bolts* zd to-theibase fof'thepolishinge machine;

Ashas-i been pointed out,"- the= work pice desig-' nated ggenerallyby referencecharacter 25? is of irregular shape; and in the instance illustrate(iiis -1the body of a fius'hvahie; such as' -is' usedier flush ing= water-'- closets; In" detailsthese valve bodies' 'comm i'se an upper cylindrical portion 26 (See f-Fi and 'll and a "lower cylindrical per- :tion 21 of -somewhatlarger diametr: The uppei cylindrical portion 26 is provided with an outward extending portion 28, usually threaded on the outside while the lower cylindrical portion 21 has a projection 29 internally threaded, and projecting from the opposite side of the valve body 25 from the projection 28. These valve bodies are usually made of brass material and molded in the foundry into the rough casting shape shown. The valve bodies when assembled are usually provided with an interior axial opening for the accommodation of the internal operating mechanism not shown. Advantage is taken of this body opening to provide a means for removably supporting the valve body upon the rotatable work table while the polishing operations are being performed. The valve body is removably supported upon the work table 7 by means of the arbor 30 and the horse shoe washer 3| which is slid under the end 32 of the arbor 36, as will be pointed out hereinafter.

I The polishing wheels l to 20, inclusive, are preferably arranged opposite each station so as to provide the correct polishing pressure on the work piece surface. The first three polishing wheels l5, l6 and I1, are adapted to perform work only on the lower cylindrical portion 21 of the work piece 25 and each wheel provides a different degree of polishing, for example, the wheel I5 will be for rough polishing, the wheel l6 slightly finer, and the wheel I! of a still finer polishing construction. The remaining three polishing wheels, IS, IS, and 20, are arranged to perform similar polishing operations upon the upper cylindrical portion 26.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, each polishing wheel is adjustably supported by an arrangement including a laterally slidable mounting plate 35 which directly supports the motor by means of bolts 36 screwed into plate 35. This slidable mounting plate 35 is also provided with a pair of rails 37, which are adapted to horizontally slide in channels cut in a vertical plate 38 and formed as a portion of the mounting bracket 23. At the outward end of the plate 38 a turnedup projection 39 carries a hand screw 40 for moving the plate 35 inward and outward with respect to the work table I, so that the position of the polishing wheels can be varied with respect to'the work piece and provide any-degree of polishing pressure desired. The hand screw 40 has a spring 41 surrounding its shaft to provide some degree of resiliency with respect to the polishing pressure exerted against the work piece. The end of hand screw 40 threads into a projection 42 of the sliding plate 35, so that the plate may be shifted as desired.

In order to index or rotate the work table successively between the various stations A to H, inclusive; and thereby shift the work pieces progressively, a Geneva intermittent motion is provided. This Geneva motion comprises means for rotating the work table I intermittently and cooperates with a depending circular flanged portion 45 on the work table I, which is arranged with gear teeth 46 on its lower inside surface. The Geneva gear element 41 is coupled directly with a second driving gear 49 adapted to mesh with the large work table gear 46, and is also provided with oppositely disposed slots, such as 50 and 5|, adapted to be engaged by a pin 52 at certain intervals. The pin 52 is carried by the disc 53 which is continuously rotated in the direction of the arrow by electric motor 48. The entire Geneva mechanism is suitably supported as shown in Fig. f]; by means of theebracket 54 attached by screws 55 to the machine base 5. In the wellknown manner, operation of motor 48 continually rotates the disc 53, and upon each revolution thereof the pin 52 engages one of the notches 59, effecting a degree rotation of the Geneva gear 47, which in turn rotates its associated gear 49 to thereby revolve the work table I clockwise from one of the indexed stations to the next one.

Each one of the stations provided for the work pieces has a small gear 58 attached to the work piece arbor 30 below the work table I, and rotation of this gear 58 consequently effects a simi1ar rotation of the associated work piece. Gears 58 are all meshed with a large driving gear 59, rotatable on the pillar 6 and extension 9, so that rotation of gear 59 will effect a counter clockwise axial rotation of each of the gears 58 at the particular station at which they have been positioned. This axial rotation occurs simultaneously with the polishing'operation that takes place upon the work piece in each of the several indexed positions.

For the purpose of controlling the operations of the machine while polishing the work pieces, the hydraulic mechanism illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3 is. provided. This mechanism and its operation are well known in the art and a detailed illustration is therefore not thought necessary. In its essential elements, the hydraulic mechanism comprises a cylinder 60 having a piston 6| reciprocal therein, which piston has an operating arm 62, extending'from it. The cylinder 60 is rigidly supported by a mounting plate 63, fastened to the machine base 5 by bolts as shown in Fig. 4. The free end of operating arm 62 rides in a slot formed in an extension 64 of a pawl and ratchet mechanism for intermittently rotatin the large gear 59. This ratchet mechanism includes a bearing plate 65 rotatable on the shoulder formed in the top end of the supporting pillar 6 of the machine. The ratchet teeth 66 are preferably formed integral with the large gear 59, as shown in Fig. 4, and the pawl 61 pivoted on plate 65 is adapted to contact successive teeth of the ratchet 66 whenever the extension 64 is given a partial rotation by the piston 6|. The arrangement is such that the step by step operation of the pawl 61 and ratchet 66 effects a partial rotation of each of the small gears 58 to rotate the work piece axially counterclockwise for a distance less than a complete revolution.

It will be seen that each of the work pieces upon the work table 1 must be looked upon the arbor 3!] whenever polishing operations are performed and means are therefore provided in the loading and unloading station A for releasing this locking means. Referring particularly to Fig. '7, this locking means comprises a mandrel 10, through which the arbor 39'extends, and which has a supporting disc 1| formed on the bottom thereof directly above the surface of the work table I. The mandrel I9 is further provided with a depending hollow sleeve 12, extending through the work table I and keyed as shown to the work piece gear 58. A relatively stiff spring 13 surrounds the arbor 30 and butts against a shoulder 14, formed in the lower end of the arbor 30. A nut 16 and associated washer tightly clamp the mandrel'lo and gear 58 to the work table 1 in the manner shown, the usual bearing being provided to effect smooth rotation of the mechanism described. At the extreme lower portion of the arbor 30' a freely revolving 7 resources:

bella'litistsupnorted. This M11115; asthe tableih is indexed, engages a cam surface 11, locate-6 direc ly under. the edge; ofastationA. Cam 11 iscarried: by; bracket; 18.; turn supported by bolts; 1 91v to themachineabase 5.; -as-seenin Fig; 2;

The; foregoing. arrangementxissuchthat whenever thework piece is indexedtostation A, therball :1.ieis=raised:on-the .cam surface 15! againstthe tension: exerted by spring. 13: forces; the arbor? 331-; upwardly, causing the horse shoe washer. 31 to be moved away fr'omthetop fdh'awork piece; 2-5;v asbestaseen in Fi'g. 7-. In.

thispositiom the-work; pi'ece;2-5:-is loose upon the mandrel and arbor 30, and the Washer 3| may bequickly; slipped; off; and thework piece removed-t'verticallyviromthe arbor 3i); and plate 1|. In, all: other indexed positionsof the work piece, the; spring; 1-3iiseffective.: to rigidly clamp the workpieceon themandrelv'lrwhile polishing operations are'taking placie-v and the tension is sufficient toiprevent relative rotation of the body and the mandrel;

From thi description of the mechanism just given,- it-willzbe lobviousthat: the polishing operations take place upon the work piece. while it is being" axially rotatedcounterclockwise at the stations-by. the large gear 59 controlled in turn bythe hydraulicpiston-ffiil; and that the indexingmechanism is-efiective through the medium of-rthe Geneva gearing ;50=-to rotate. the work table 1'; clockwise. There is also 'another rotation of the gearsw58ywhi'ch takes-place during: the indexing: operation. This is the axial motion occurring when the work table- 'I- is'-.rotated' and indexed clockwise by the internal gear. 46: on the work table flange 45::and results in rolling the gears 58 around large gear 59in a clockwise direction during the indexingmovement, as depicted :in Fig. 3

by, the dottedgear shown between stations B1 and C. At each station; the, gears58-=are rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the clockwise motion of the large gear 59; It is therefore seen that; there are three distinctmovements elTective upon the work-pieces. First, when they are axially rotated and polishing operations are being performed uponthem; second, when they are radiallyeand bodily movedby the work table from one position to the other, and third, when they are rotated axially during the indexing movement by the gear 46.

Referring again to -Figs. l and 6, it is seen that-each of the-mandrel discs H are provided with a locating arrowhead 8U; thepurpose of which is to line up-the work piece body to enable it to be properly positioned on'the mandrel when 4 ax al' tat ateach station -is-,a very slow rate on-the order o f;on e t o;fi\ e R,- P -lVL, it is entirelypracticalto load apd unload the work; table -at station A hile he au re He st-un as- When the Work piece body; 2551s in; station-B, it slowly revolves n the: ireo i ihea rrow ndicated; and the polish g whee rass; tter whi h-i111:isir orederom tation :3

This actiOn 1 fia er orms s p lishing work on i e ort ;e z i the; ody i ntil-gthe body'- has effected a ation ii prrox matelyfllode-.

iii

tQaSiiatiOHzG-r It; willzbeobvious:thatrfor the nexti polishing wheel-i l to} perform. its work; upon: the

worh-piece body, thebody must' be rotated back;

again! tOt'tHQ-fl same initial: starting position; in which it-:contactedz the polishing wheel; at etation'. B=" 'llhisi retroactive rotation of" the: work: body; isperform'ed: by; rotating. the small 1 gear. 5'82 clockwise during the indexing. motion 'by. means: ofrt-he gearingsdfi z and: 58%: The work piece I therefore: arrives atrthe station: 0 & irr; the correct sit'ionz tq be worked upon; again while rotating:- clockwise with the polishing wheel; I: The: same actionl takeseplacie between the-- other stationsaegrcept between stations D'L'Etl'ld'z Invorder to effectivelys'correl'ate the indexingoperation; with the' axial rotatibnz of the womepieces; the electri'calacircuit diagranr-andihydraulien-reclaanism-;depicted schematieal-lyrnr Figi provided-2 Thiszarrangem'ent includes ahydram lie" foureway; control valve 86? off well' kinown con-- structi-oh; the purposeof which -is tecontrol the reciprocating motiorrnfthe piston/65! within the hydraulic cylinder 610; The hydraulic valve i aeis co'r itrelled by an operatingslever 8 1*: turn -ac tu dhy apain of 'solenoids 88fi and 89i; whit: etfe'c th four-Way valve brieratien of valve 862 lie. reservoir or accumulator '90 is also together with "apur'n p 9-1 and a-pressure regulator orreliei a valve I 92; all: elements being suitably interconnected by hydraulie' pressure lines-has shown with the lines. and 94: from; the-valve- BSsteXtendingLintdopposite-sides of the. hydraulic cylindersfiflr In-0rder to efi'ect the en-.-. ergiz'ation or :the solenoidew :a'n d=88 they; are ine terc'onnectedi with a (source or:- electrical current 5, 9 iriitiallyplosed whenade's'ired as byuaswitch =96; Aiicontactfleaf spring :9 is arran'g.ed within-the r0. tation-al' path. of the cam 56' mounted-1 upon 2 the Geneva motion-gear; 5.3; The-sleet? spring; 9'lw:is: adapted togclose contacts 29 8 ir-r one positionioflthe: cam'fifigand contacts :99 'in another positionof the cam;

Thee-f0regoing;arrangementris-such that when, eye the-aswitchfi 6. is aclo'sediandzthe machine sets. 'fcraoperation; anelectric circuitzis closed-through this-switch and theasource 'of current:;contacts; 91 and 93, to the solenoid 89, energizing the samev As airesirltythe, valve; arim fl 1' is pulled-overttowarfd solenoid :89; causing. hydraulic: fluid'fto .pass iover liner-9;; and'lforce the piston filir'rithe rightahand directionrin;thecylinderzfiflis hissiresulbsfim hfi: pawl rfix'l' rotatingifitlre ratchet 66'; one? isteprsto the": right-5, This movement foftpiston r611 1542600111? plis'hed' relatively slowly in a order; that; thevlarges sear 533031115gaigiailyerdtateieacltfof the associatedz' small :gears,-..5 while the: polishinge'operations :orr. thevworlcpiece-rarer taking; place; During thistime- Genevammuon pin 52: isirotatin'g: in azcou-n-v ter clockwisedirectiorr while cami56rhas its dwell 2 portionincontact with thegleaf spring i9*1,:"main'- tainine;;contact:i99z;in a closedgcon'dition; Evenm tual-ly the rise portionxof-the cam-56 engages andi moves; contact spring 91; opening conta'cts 99i:and=: closinglcontacts 985; whichis' effective-to cause energizationof :thje'other electromaghet .v88 ove1: an obvious circuit. This; action' causes-thehydraulicfluidto passsovervthe line 94' to the rear side-of the piston Blyfoncingrthe piston: outward from the cylinder 60 and-:causingrv the ratchet'ili 'l to. slide backwards over the ratchet tooth 566:"toengage-- the 11BX1711JOQth4 The-largeigear SQ therefQreJcan-c. no'trrotate backwards;

During; the aforesaid :"retumi 'motion ofthee ratchet m'echanism,=-thepin 52 of theGeneva; mo

tiorrtenga'ges the slot ioiof the Geneva wh'eeh 413 This efiects a 90' degree rotation of Geneva gear' 41, causing gear 49 through ring gearing 46 on the work table 1 to move or rotate the work table in a counter clockwise direction and index the work pieces to the next station. A short time after Geneva pin 52 moves out of engagement with the Geneva slot 5I, the contact spring 91 drops oif of the rise portion of cam 56, causing the opening of contacts 98 and the closure of contacts 99. This is eflfective thereupon to again cause the hydraulic cylinder 60 to axially rotate the work pieces in the polishing position.

As has been stated, the first three polishing wheels, I5, I and II, are effective to operate upon the lower body portion 2'! of the work piece 25, while the polishing wheels I8, I9 and 20 are efiective on the upper body portion 26. Therefore, as seen in Fig. 5, the respective two groups of polishing wheels rotate on diiferent horizontal levelsp Due to the fact that one of the work piece projections 28 is located on the opposite side of the body from the projection 29, it is necessary to effect a partial axial shifting of the body when it is indexed between the two groups of polishing wheels, namely, between positions D and E. Since the work piece has been securely clamped in its mandrel in the loading station A and can only be removed or unlocked at that Station, a similar releasing means is provided between positions D and E to unlock the body and prevent its rotation by gear 58 rolling around gear 59 during the indexing between the two aforesaid stations. The unlocking action is accomplished by the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, and includes a restraining member I00 arranged between positions D and E, provided with a curved face plate IOI, arranged within the orbit of the work piece 25 as it passes between the two stations. The member I00 is adjustably supported by bolts I02 extending through slots and into an angular bracket I03 supported in turn by bolts I94 upon the polishing motor bracket 23. Between the two aforesaid stations and below the work table I, there is also arranged a camimember I05 adjustably supported by an integral. bracket I06 and screws I01 to motor bracket 23. V

.The arrangement is such that when the ball ridesup on cam surface I05, after the work piece leaves polishing wheel II, the arbor 30 is moved upwardly, releasing the clamping pressure upon the body 25. At this same instant, while the table I is rotated and the work piece has made a partial axial rotation of. about 180,

the projecting portion 28' of the body engages the face plate IOI and slides along it without axially rotating: An instant before the work piece body reaches station E, and just prior to its engagement with the polishing wheel I8, the ball 15 rides off of cam surface I05 and the work piece body is again clamped tightly to the mandrel 10 by spring I3. At the station E, the projecting portion 28 is now positioned so that the body can be rotated counter-clockwise in the direction of the arrow, and the polishing operation performed on the upper portion 26 of the body. Thereafter, as the work piece is further indexed clockwise, it is rotated each time to its'initial starting position before the next polishing wheel. H no polishing action takes place on the body, since this location merely occupies the space of the Geneva motion mechanism. When the work piece reaches the position A, it is readily removed since the arbor is then loosened and the washer3l can be removed, releasing the body. An-

In station other workpiece is thereupon placed on the'mam In the preferred form, the machine contemplates a' polishing wheel speed of around 2,000 R. P. M.,' depending upon the type of work required. The indexing speed of the Geneva motion is preferably set so that the movement of the work piece from one station to the other takes place approximately every ten seconds. Depending upon the type of polishing or grinding desired, it is also preferable that the axial rotation of the work piece when in contact with the polishing wheel be approximately on the order of one to five R. P. M.

It is to be understood that the invention contemplates the provision of any number of polishing wheels or stations from that shown and described. Also, it is clear that any other irregular shaped cylindrical body may be worked upon by the machine with simple adjustments to the mechanism. While only a single preferred machine has been illustrated and described, it is desired that the invention be not limited to the precise structure disclosed, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

It will be further understood that whereas I have shown my invention as applied as a polishing or buffing device, it may be applied to a wide variety of different work performing operations and with different tools or working members. For example, whereas I illustrate polishing wheels I5 to 29, it will be understood that I may apply my invention to milling and cutting operations, and in connection with cutting tools.

That is claimed is:

1. In an automatic machine for processing work pieces having irregular body contours, a work table having work piece supporting means arranged at intervals around said table, intermittent driving means for indexing said work table to position said work pieces into different stations, work performing means arranged opposite each station of said work table, a main gear including pawl and ratchet mechanism for axially rotating each work piece at each station while the work performing means is operating upon the work piece, the axial rotation of the work piece being less than one complete revolution, and means for axially rotating said work piece to i initial axial position during the time said work piece is being indexed by said work table between stations, said last means comprising an arrangement whereby said intermittent driving means rolls said work piece supporting means along said main gear while said main gear is stationary.

2. In an automatic machine for processing work pieces having irregular shaped body contours, a Work table having supporting means for said work pieces arranged at spaced intervals around said work table, means for indexing said work table to position said work pieces progressively into a plurality of different stations, polishing means arranged opposite certain of said stations of said work table, there being a different 3. In an automatic machine for performing arson-09s work upon work pieces having body contours "of different size diameters and 'proj ecting portions formed in *each diameter portion of the body, a work table having supporting means thereon for said work Zpieces arranged at spaced intervals aroundsaid work table, means for indexing said 'tvorkrtable to position said work pieces :prog-res- 'sively into a :plurality'of different stations, work performing means arranged -at each "of said sta- "tions except at a loading istation, 'certain 'of said work iperforming 'm'eans arranged to perform -work on one diameter .of said work pieces and 'others of said work performing means on the other diameter of said work pieces, means for :axially 'rotating each f said work pieces a par- =tial revolution while the work performing operations-are being:performed on one diameterof the work .piece body, means ior axially rotating each 'work piece back to its initial axial position while the work pieces are being indexed between sta -tions,and means-for again axially rotating 'each work piece after it has been indexed from a certainoneof said stations to placethe work pieces in position =-to be worked upon'on another diameter of the work :piece body.

'4. In an automatic machine for performing work upon work :pieces having cylindrical shaped bodies of different "diameters and a projecting portion extending -=rrom each diameter of the 'body, -a work table-supporting said work :pieces 'atspaced intervals around said table and having means for indexing :saidwork pieces progressive- =ly to a plurality-of work stations, work perform- -ing means at e'ach station, certain-of said Work iperfo'rming mean's arranged to perform work on one diameter of the work piece body and others of-saidwork performing-means on another diameter of said work piece body, means for axially rotating each of said work pieces for a partial revolution at 'eachstation while the work performing means is working thereon, means for axially rotating said work pieces in a retroactive direction to their initial position while being indexed between stations, and means arranged between certain of said stations for imparting another axial rotation to said work pieces when "the work pieces are indexed'be'tween the work performing means of one diameter of the work piece body to the work performing means of the other diameter.

5. Inanautomaticmachineforperforming work upon work pieces having bodies of different diameters and with projecting portions formed on each body diameter, means for supporting said work pieces at spaced intervals and for moving them progressively into different work stations, work performing means at each station, certain sets of said work performing means arranged for performing work on one diameter of said work pieces and other sets on the other diameter, means including pawl and ratchet mechanism for axially rotating said work pieces as the work performing means works thereon, means including a Geneva.

gear means for retroactively axially rotating said work pieces as they are indexed between stations, and means for additionally axially rotating said work pieces as the work pieces are indexed from the set of work performing means working on one body diameter to the set of work performing means on the other body diameter.

6. In an automatic machine for performing work upon work pieces having bodies of different diameters and with projecting portions formed on each body diameter, means for supporting said work pieces at spaced intervals on said machine, a Geneva gear: means for -=moving said work pieces progressively" into diff erent work stations, work performing means effective to work-upon one body diameter in certain indexed positionsof said work-piecesand other workper forming means effective to work upon another -body=diameter in other indexed fpositions, means including pawl and ratchet mechanism for effecting aipartial' axial rotation of said workpieces when beingworked upon on one body" diameter, means for effecting a different partial axialfrortation of said work :pieces when being indexed to apositiontcbe worked upon on the other body diameter, and means including said Geneva gear -means for producing a furtherpartial axial-r0- tation while said workpieces are being indexed between stations.

'7. in an automatic machine, -a rotatable work table having a plurality of workpiece stations spaced around it, work performing means '10 'catedopposite-each work station, a Geneva move ment -for i-ntermittentl-y indexing said work piece stations to-a different one of said work performing means, an individual work rotating egear- -for each work :piece, a common-driving gear meshed with all of said work piece rotating gears, -inter=- mittentstep-by-step mechanism for rotating said driving gear to cause a partial-rotation "of @each work piece against the associated work perform:- -ing means, means for correlati-ng the operation 'of said step-by step mechanism and said Geneva, movement, said work piecejgears also *beingqrotated retroactively by being rolled around said driving-gear by the indexing movement --of said work table whereby" said work pieces are always rotated back to their initial starting position against each i work performing means after ,:a partial "rotation against the preceding work per-- forming means.

8. In an automatic machine-arrotatable work table having a [plurality of workpiece stations spaced around it, each work piece comprising a body having upperand lower cylindrical body portions of different diameters-and having arpro- :jection on each cylindrical body portion extending from-opposite sides thereof, a-work perform- -ing means located opposite each work station, some :of said work performing -means operating upon the upper body portion and others ;upon the -1ower body portion, a Genevamovement-for indexingsaid work :piece stations between different ones of said work performing means, an individual rotating gear for each work piece, a common driving gear meshed with all of said work piece gears, intermittent step-by-step mechanism for rotating said driving gear to cause a partial rotation of each work piece against the associated work performing means, means for correlating the operation of said step-by-step mechanism and said Geneva movement, said work piece gears also being rotated retroactively by being rolled around said driving gear by the indexing movement of said work table whereby said work pieces are always rotated back to their initial starting position against each work performing means after a partial rotation against the preceding work performing means, and means located between the sets of work performing means operating on the upper and lower work piece body portions for changing the initial starting position of the work piece at the next succeeding work performing means.

9. In an automatic machine for processing work pieces having irregular shaped body contours, a work table arranged for axial rotation,

' 11 work piece supporting means positioned at intervals around said table, Geneva gear means for indexing said table to position said work pieces at difierent stations, work' engaging tools arranged at each station of said work table, means including a main gear and pawl and ratchet drive means for rotating each Work piece against such tools after it is indexed to each station, and means including said Geneva gear for rotating each work piece to its initial position as the work piece is indexed between stations.

10. The structure of claim 9 characterized by and including rotary tools arranged at each station of said work table, and driving means for rotating each said tool during rotation of the work piece at the station.

11. In an automatic machine for processing 'work pieces, a work table arranged for rotation the work piece is indexed to each station, and

means including said Geneva gear means for rotating the work pieces as the work pieces are indexed from station to station.

12. In an automatic machine for performing work upon work pieces having cylindrical shaped body contours of different diameters and projecting portions formed in each diameter portion of the body, a work table having supporting means thereon for said work pieces arranged at spaced intervals around said work table, means for indexing said work table to position said work pieces progressively into a plurality of different stations, work performing means arranged at each of said stations except at a loading station, certain of said work performing means arranged to perform work on one diameter of said work pieces and others of said work performing means on the other diameter of said work pieces, means for axially rotating each of said work pieces in one direction for less than a full revolution at each of said stations while the Work performing means is performing the work thereon, and means for axially rotating said work pieces in a retroactive direction to their initial position while the Work pieces are being indexed between stations whereby the work performed on each work piece will be started on the body diameter at a place'immediately adjacent a projecting portion of the work piece body.

13. The method of performing work upon work pieces having irregular shaped body contours which consists in intermittently moving the work pieces between stations, axially rotating each work piece at a station for less than a full revolution while the work is being performed upon the work piece, and then axially rotating the work piece in a retroactive direction for less than a full revolution to its initial axial position while being moved to another station'i 14. The method of performing work upon work pieces having irregular shaped body contours which consists in intermittently moving the work pieces from one work station to another, axially rotating the work piece at each station for less than a full revolution while work is being performed upon the Work piece, and then simultaneously axially rotating the work piece in a retroactive direction for less than a full revolution while being moved to the next station.

15. The method of performing work upon work pieces having irregularly shaped contours which consists in positioning a Work piece at a station, axially rotating the work piece, at such station, for less than a full revolution, while performing work on the work piece, moving the work piece to another station, while simultaneously rotating it in a reverse direction of rotation for less than a full rotation, and axially rotating the work piece in its original direction of rotation, while performing work upon it at said last mentioned station.

IRVING H. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 395,160 Marsh Dec. 25, 1888 1,989,517 Holmes Jan. 29, 1935 2,145,310 Lewis et a1 Jan. 31, 1939 2,353,180 Bolsey June 27, 1944 2,386,649 Belcourt Oct. 9, 1945 2,390,596 Larsen Dec. 11, 1945 

